In another article I explained a series of key points to look out for when buying a laptop for programming.
To complete the guide on the choosing a good laptop for programmingI think it convenient to provide you with portable equipment that meets most of the aforementioned requirements and with different price ranges, so that you can choose the one that suits your budget.
Next, in this list, I will propose a series of models that I have found to be good value for money and I will explain what makes each laptop special.
In addition, I also have to remember that, since the laptops are focused on programmingthings like a dedicated graphics card will be secondary, but since it is inevitable that you will not find a good graphics card in a laptop of a certain price, you will find a laptop with one equipped.
This analysis is based on the 2018 laptop deals and will include some offer from last year that is now at an irresistible price.
Content
- Low-end laptops for programmers
- ACER A315-51-310J: (~443€)
- HP 15-BW054NS 256GB SSD laptop ~450€
- Mid-Range Laptops for Software Developers
- HP 250 G6: i5 8GB RAM 256GB SSD and FULL HD for around €585
- LENOVO IDEAPAD 320-15IKB: i7 or i5 (~€600)
- High range of portable equipment to program
- GIGABYTE SABER 17-G
- ASUS R510VX-DM534T: (€1180)
- Do you have questions or suggestions about the laptops seen?
Low-end laptops for programmers
ACER A315-51-310J: (~443€)
The cheapest laptop on the list is an Acer ultrabook with more than enough features for its price.
At the heart of this model is a 6th generation i3 CPU, the 6006U, widely used this last year due to its low consumption and good performance, with a base frequency of 2GHz and 3MB of cache.
Accompanying the processor you will find 8GB of DDR4 memory, since as I said in another post, the 4GB of RAM is far below what is necessary to program at ease.
As negative point to program we found a 1TB hard drive, which is also slow with its speed of 5400rpm. As we said in the guide, to program in good conditions we will need an SSD disk, so the ideal would be to replace the one that comes with one of at least 240GB. It does not come with more bays, so you should convert that drive to a removable one in case you need to store more data.
[Actualización] There is also a version with a 128GB SSD which, for certain programmers, can be useful.
Speaking of the bays, it must also be said that Does not contain a DVD driveand although there are people who use them, you can always opt for an external USB reader.
Its excellent price brings an expected negative point that cannot be solved, its screen, which is only 1366×768 pixels in resolution and is not a very good panel, but it complies in terms of color quality and sharpness. Ideally, you should use an external monitor to get the most out of the equipment.
For connectivity, it has an ethernet connector, an hdmi, a USB 3.0 and an SD card reader on the left. On the right is the charger connector, 2 USB 2.0 and the mixed 3.5mm Jack. In addition, it has 5GHz WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0.
The keyboard is comfortable and non-slip. It’s generally pretty good for that price, as the quality of the materials is more than decent.
As you have seen we are before a excellent quality/price teamwe can tell you with total sincerity, that for programming it has no rival at that price.
HP 15-BW054NS 256GB SSD laptop ~450€
Here we enter into a contradiction with respect to what was mentioned above, and that is that this laptop contains an AMD processoralthough this has a reason and that is that the A9-9420 at 3GHz of this equipment is less powerful than the i3 of the previous model, but in exchange for this a price margin is created that allows one to obtain a computer with an SSD Factory installed 256GB M.2.
Repeating amounts regarding memory, the HP also packs 8GB of DDR4 RAM on a single SODIMM module.
It should be said that, since the processor is from AMD, the graphics is also, since the A9 is an APU (graphics and cpu in the same piece). The graphics is more powerful than that of the i3, but it does not stand out too much, although for programming it more than complies even with an external monitor.
For connectivity, this laptop includes all of the above and improves it:
On the left side, the ethernet connector, an HDMI, 2 USB 3.1 5Gbps and the mixed audio jack in addition to the charging connector.
On the right side, an SD card reader, a USB 2.0 and, this time, a DVD burner. Of course, the laptop does not have an extra SATA port because it is replaced by M.2, so if we want to install a secondary hard drive we will have to remove the DVD drive.
Also, the WiFi adapter supports 5GHz in dual band, which provides higher transfer speeds, which accompanies a Bluetooth 4.2 module.
Here the screen fails us again, since it continues to maintain the 1366×768 pixels, although this time it is WLED, which allows finer screens and higher general color quality, but does not make a significant difference.
The keyboard is robust and smooth; comfortable to wear. Additionally tell you that the touchpad buttons are physical.
We conclude that this equipment, in the low range, is the one that will provide you with the best general quality, especially due to its factory-mounted SSD that prevents us from investing a single euro more to obtain what we need.
Mid-Range Laptops for Software Developers
Here things change, since we are talking about higher prices, so in these teams we are going to see things like full HD screens and more powerful processors.
In this price range we will find complete equipment, to last several years with excellent performance.
HP 250 G6: i5 8GB RAM 256GB SSD and FULL HD for around €585
This team marks a range transition, since this time we find an i5 7200U at 2.5GHz, which is again accompanied by an 8GB DDR4 memory module.
The graphics card is integrated, the Intel HD 620, very similar in power to the integrated one of the i3 6006U and that, as we mentioned before, will allow you to use external monitors without problem.
In connectivity, HP usually sets fixed standards and that is that the connections are practically the same as we found in the previous laptop, having the DVD burner, a USB 2.0 and the card reader on the right, in addition to the indication leds. On the left side is the audio jack, a pair of USB 3.1, an HDMI and a VGA.
Besides, it also has 5GHz WiFi, this time monoband and bluetooth.
The screen of this model improves a lot Compared to the previous two, we are now talking about a 1920×1080 resolution TN panel. As a point in favor, this time the screen is matteso the reflections will not bother, something that in srCodigoFuente we value as the point that grants excellence in a screen for software development and programming use.
The keyboard is exactly the same as the previous model since HP has used the same chassis in both.
LENOVO IDEAPAD 320-15IKB: i7 or i5 (~€600)
The brain of this laptop has several configurations, the best being the 1.8GHz i7 8550U with 4GHz Turbo, accompanied by an 8GB RAM module, which will have to be completely replaced if we want to expand the memory, since this laptop only has a memory slot.
As CPU we will also find other good options such as the i5-8250U or the i7 7500U.
Regarding storage we can find it in two options:
- My preference: a 128GB SSD in SATA format with 4GB of RAM that you should replace with 8GB.
- 2TB HDD with 8GB DDR4 RAM.
Of course, although it seems otherwise, it does not include a DVD reader, but it does have a bay to install it, in which we will find an adapter to install another 2.5 “SATA drive. This option is great for expanding your computer space with another HD or SSD.
Connectivity does not fall short and it is that in this model Lenovo has decided to place all the connectors on the left side. In order: the charging connector, the ethernet port, an HDMI, two USB 3.1 type A, a USB 3.1 type C and the card reader
The display panel is fantastic (depends on the chosen configuration): Full HD, plus mate, to avoid reflections.
The body is very robust and clean.
This is a fantastic piece of equipment for the price offeredbeing able to find it even, in certain offers, below €600.
The only weak point is that It only has one slot for RAM..
High range of portable equipment to program
In this price range of around a thousand euros, we are going to find authentic portable workstations for programmingwith very few or almost no negative points.
We have selected both teams with top quality anti-glare screens and i7 cpu with maximum performance in laptops.
GIGABYTE SABER 17-G
This time I recommend the 17″ model, since in addition to the fact that I have found that the 15″ is worth €1,300, this screen size will give us the best work experience.
This high-end laptop is perfect for programming and multitasking thanks to its incredible INTEL i7 7700HQ cpu, at 2.8GHz, along with one of the two memory slots that it has occupied by 16 GB 8GB of RAM (The 16GB model is no longer sold, there is only the 8GB one).
For storage, this version comes with a 1TB HDD. And it should be said that the M.2 connector that comes on it is compatible with NVMe.
Besides, the graphics card is dedicated: A 2GB GTX 1050, since the laptop is partly dedicated to gamingsomething common in a laptop of this price that is not an ultrabook.
For connectivity, this laptop is loaded: we find on the left side the charging connector, the ethernet port, two mini Display Ports, one HDMI, one USB 3.1 type C and one USB 3.0. On the right side are the audio jacks, both output and input, a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0.
17” screen Full HD resolution, consists of a anti-glare IPS panel, which gives a very good quality of colors. The best screen by far from those analyzed so far.
The laptop is actually dedicated to gaming, so the keyboard is of very good qualityAfter all, it is designed for prolonged use. It also comes equipped with optional RGB backlighting.
ASUS R510VX-DM534T: (€1180)
The processor of this ASUS model is the same i7 7700HQ, along with this time, yes, 16GB of RAM, divided into 2 modules. In terms of storage, the laptop includes a 1TB 5400rpm HDD, which doesn’t quite convince me, as I prefer 7200rpm HDDs. To achieve the best performance, once again, I recommend looking for an SSD of at least 240GB to top off the equipment.
This laptop also has a dedicated graphics card: the 2GB GTX 950M.
Speaking of connectivity, on the laptop we find an almost empty right side, which only contains a DVD drive and USB 2.0. Instead, on the left side are the charging connector, a VGA output, an HDMI, the ethernet connector, a USB 3.0 and another USB 2.0. Of course, for the price of the laptop I admit that a USB type C is missing.
The LED panel of the screen is Full HD and anti-glarewhich is an absolute priority, especially if you are going to work on the laptop for long sessionssince the reflections destroying our sight.
He keyboard is robust and qualityalthough this time it does not include a backlight of any kind.
Do you have questions or suggestions about the laptops seen?
As you have seen, we have worked hard to search among the wide range of laptops that circulate in online stores in 2018. It has been an expensive task, especially due to the lack of equipment marked with the “laptop for programmers“, which turns this search into an odyssey that can take you hours or even days to make a decision.
Still, it is possible that you have some personal recommendation or find another better equipment, if so, we would appreciate it if you share it with the community by leaving us a comment.